The effect of water quality, cultivar, and organic fertilizer on growth and yield of volatile oil carvone and limonene in Dill

Scarcity of irrigation water, reduction in water quality, and increased amount of land affected by salinity are problems affecting production of dill (Anethum graveolens L.). A field experiment was conducted to study effects of irrigation water quality (1.2 and 8 dS center dot m-1), cultivars Esfahan and Franchi, and organic fertilizers (rice waste compost, potassium humate, and granular humate) on growth and volatile oil quantity and quality in dill. The combination of granular humate (2 kg center dot ha-1) and rice waste compost (20 ton center dot ha-1) had the highest dry yield (823 kg center dot ha-1) when irrigated with 1.2 dS center dot m-1; treatment with granular humate (2 kg center dot ha-1) had the highest dry yield (625 kg) when irrigated with water at 8 dS center dot m-1. Treatment with rice waste compost at 20 ton center dot h-1 had the highest percent of volatile oil (0.292%), yield of volatile oil (1.762 L center dot ha-1), and percent of carvone (10.64%) when irrigated with water at 1.2 dS center dot m-1. The combination of granular humate (2 kg center dot ha-1) and rice waste compost (20 ton center dot ha-1) had the highest percent of volatile oil (0.184%) and yield of volatile oil (0.333 L center dot ha-1) when irrigated with water at 8 dS center dot m-1. The cultivars differed in response to salinity of the irrigation water; fertilizer combinations reduced damage due to salinity in some dill growth parameters, and quality and quantity of dill volatile oils. Use of organic fertilizers led to improve quality and quantity of dill under saline conditions and reduce dependency on synthetic fertilizers.